Results tagged ‘ Jason Frasor ’
ALUMNI REPORT: WERTH
In this week’s Alumni Report we take at former Syracuse outfielder Jayson Werth (’02-’03).
After recovering from a stint on the DL in July with an injured wrist, Werth is taking advantage of injuries to outfielders Shane Victorino and Michael Bourn. In 10 August games he is hitting .294 with a home run and 8 RBI.
The 6’5″ outfielder was signed by the Phillies to a one-year contract this off-season after spending the last two years with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He was traded to the Dodgers during Spring Training of ’04 for reliever Jason Frasor. That season Werth hit .262 with 16 HR and 47 RBI in 89 games. He followed that up playing in 102 games in ’05 hitting .234 with 7 HR and 43 RBI before seeing his season ending wrist injury which sidelined him through the whole 2006 season as well.
A native of Springfield, Illinois Werth was originally selected out of Glenwood High School by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1st round, 22nd overall, of the 1997 draft as a catcher. He was traded to the Jays on December 11, 2000 for John Bale.
In 2002 for the SkyChiefs Werth hit .257 with 18 HR, 80 RBI and 24 SB in 127 games. He made his Major League debut for Toronto that season on September 1st against the Yankees and collected his first Major League hit off of David Wells.
THIS AND THAT
Congratulations to infielder Ryan Roberts who becomes the third Chiefs player called up this season when Troy Glaus was placed on the DL. Roberts was taken off the 40-man roster this off-season but put himself back on the map with a solid Spring Training. Roberts joins Adam Lind and Jamie Vermilyea in Toronto.
It looks like Lind will be in Toronto for awhile because Reed Johnson will miss two months after having back surgery. Also closer BJ Ryan will miss 4-6 weeks with tenderness in his elbow. Former Chiefs Jason Frasor and Shaun Marcum will be called upon to close games in his absence.
Insidethedome.com is reporting that the Toronto Blue Jays have reached three year contract extensions, through the 2010 season, with Tony LaCava, Director Player Personnel, **** Scott, Director Player Development, Jon Lalonde, Director Scouting, Sal Butera, Special Assistant to the GM & Charlie Wilson, Manager Minor League Operations.
Taking a look at our Double-A affiliate the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (4-2)some former Chiefs are off to a hot start. Closer Lee Gronkiewicz has 3 saves in four outings. Outfielder Wayne Lydon is hitting .333 with 2 HR and 8 RBI in six games. Catcher Erik Kratz is hitting .583 with 2 doubles a HR and 5 RBI in five games played. Pitcher David Purcey is 1-0 and had 7 strikeouts and just one walk in six innings in his only outing.
Infielder Rob Cosby was hitting .278 in five games before being placed on the DL Saturday after being hit on the hand by a pitch.
LEAGUE BACK WITH CHIEFS, MAYBE…
Righthanded pitcher Brandon League who never really was able to pitch this spring has been optioned to Syracuse. The hard throwing reliever has had trouble with his velocity and will likely spend time in Dunedin before making an appearance in Syracuse with the Chiefs.
The Blue Jays meanwhile need to make a few decisions this week now that League will not be part of their plans to start the season.
The rotation is nearly set with Roy Halladay, AJ Burnett, Gustavo Chacin and Tomo Ohka set. The fifth spot should go to Josh Towers who has pitched well enough to earn another chance.
BJ Ryan, Scott Downs, Brian Tallet, Jason Frasor also should be assured spots. That leaves John Thomson, Victor Zambrano, Geremi Gonzalez, Jeremy Accardo, Casey Janssen and Francisco Rosario all fighting for three spots. Zambrano and Janssen look like they are the front runners. While Rosario is out of options, and Thomson won’t begin throwing again until Friday. Gonzalez and Accardo look like they are ticketed to the Chiefs.
The Blue Jays could also help their bullpen by pulling off a late spring training trade or claiming someone off waivers this week.
JAYS BEGIN TO DELETE ROSTER
The Toronto Blue Jays minor league camp opened last week and games for their four affiliates will begin on Wednesday vs the Philadelphia Phillies organization. At the major league level, the parent club has begun sending down players including seven pitchers. Lefty Jo Matumoto joins righthanders Beau Kemp, Josh Banks, Ismael Ramirez, and yesterday Ryan Houston, Jean Machi and Tracy Thorpe found their way back to the Englebert Complex.
Only shortstop Sergio Santos and catcher Erik Kratz have been assigned from the group of non-pitchers.
First glance at the Jays pitching staff only Roy Halladay, A.J. Burnett, Gustavo Chacin, B.J. Ryan, Scott Downs, Jason Frasor, and Brian Tallet seem to be locks. That leaves probably five spots available and righthanders Jeremy Accardo and Brandon League if healthy will take up two of those. The other three spots, two are starting pitchers and one long reliever.
The candidates, Tomo Ohka, John Thomson, Josh Towers and Shaun Marcum are leading contenders with Victor Zambrano, Pete Walker and Geremi Gonzalez also in the mix. Francisco Rosario is out of options and can’t return to Syracuse.
Pitchers most likely left out and headed back to Syracuse include Dustin McGowan, Davis Romero, who was injured early in camp, Matt Roney, Ty Taubenheim, Lee Gronkiewicz, Blaine Neal, and Brian Wolfe.
BALE RETURNS TO STATES
Former Chiefs pitcher John Bale was signed by the Kansas City Royals on Friday. Bales, 32 who played in the major leagues with the Blue Jays, Orioles and Reds after his career in Syracuse spent the past three years in Japan with Hiroshima. In 2004 he went 11-10 as a starter. The past two seasons he was used out of the bullpen and saved 30-games with a sub 3.00 ERA. Bale was traded to the Orioles in a deal that brought Jayson Werth to Toronto. Werth was later traded to the Dodgers for righthanded pitcher Jason Frasor who pitched for the Chiefs last season.
